Drum type washing and drying machine

ABSTRACT

Drum type washing and drying machine including a tub having a hot air inlet and a hot air outlet, a drying duct connected to the hot air inlet, the drying duct having a heater and a fan built in a flow passage therein for producing hot air, and a condensing duct connected to the hot air outlet and the drying duct, for removing moisture from the hot air, wherein the condensing duct includes a cooling water supply portion for guiding cooling water to the condensing duct, at least one water splashing projection in the condensing duct for splashing the cooling water, and a guide flow passage between the cooling water supply portion and the water splashing projection for guiding the cooling water to the water splashing projection.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. P2005-16925 filed on Feb. 28, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to drum type washing machines, and more particularly, to a drum type washing and drying machine having a new flow structure applied thereto for improving drying efficiency and performance, in which a structure of a condensing device is improved for improving condensing efficiency.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

In general, the drum type washing machine washes laundry by rotating a drum by driving power of a motor in a state detergent, washing water, and laundry is introduced into the drum. The drum type washing machine is advantageous in that the laundry experiences little damage, the laundry is not entangled, and a washing effect of rubbing and pounding the laundry can be provided.

A related art drum type washing and drying machine will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a side section of an exemplary related art drum type washing and drying machine, schematically.

Referring to FIG. 1, the related art drum type washing and drying machine is provided with a door 2 on a laundry opening in a front of cabinet 1, and a tub 3 in the cabinet 1 for holding washing water.

There is a drum 4 having pass through holes in an outside circumferential surface rotatably mounted in the tub 3, and on an outside of the tub 3, there is a motor unit 5 for transmission of a driving power to the drum 4.

The door 2 is provided with a door glass 2 a convex toward an opening of the tub 3.

Between an inside of an upper side of the cabinet 1 and an upper side of an outside of the tub 3, there are hanging springs 6 for suspending the tub 3, and though not shown, there are dampers between an inside of a lower side of the cabinet 1 and an underside of an outside of the tub 3, for damping vibration of the tub 3 generated during operation of the drum type washing machine.

As the motor unit 5, mostly an indirect coupling type is employed, in which a driving power is transmitted from a motor 5 a to the drum 4 through a washing shaft 5 c, to rotate the drum 4.

In the meantime, at an inside of an upper side of the cabinet 1, there is a drying duct 7. The drying duct 7 has a heater 7 b and a fan 7 a built therein for generating and blowing of hot air.

The drying duct 7 has one end connected to a gasket 8 connected between a circumference of a front opening of the tub 3 and a circumference to door on a front of the cabinet 1.

That is, the gasket 8 is mounted along an inside circumference of the front of the tub 3, and has bellows shape for absorbing vibration from the tub 3, for preventing the hot air from leaking through a connection portion between the drying duct 7 and the tub 3.

The tub 3 has a condensing duct 9 mounted thereon so as to be in communication with the drying duct 7. The condensing duct 9 has one end connected to a rear of the tub 3, and the other end connected to the drying duct 7. The condensing duct 9 has a cooling water supply pipe 9 a for supplying cooling water thereto to condense and remove moisture from air.

In the meantime, FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view showing a state in which the cooling water supply pipe is mounted to the related art condensing duct.

Referring to FIG. 2, the cooling water supply pipe 9 a is formed separate from the condensing duct 9, and is placed in, and secured to, a fastening hole 9 h in a top of the condensing duct 9. A water supply hose 9 b is connected to one side of the cooling water supply pipe 9 a.

The drum type washing and drying machine performs washing, rinsing, spinning, and drying.

The drying of the drum type washing and drying machine will be described.

Upon starting drying of the drum type washing and drying machine, a power is supplied to the heater 7 b on the drying duct 7, when the fan 7 a blows hot air as the fan 7 a and the heater 7 b are put into operation.

The hot air hits a sloped portion of the door glass 2 a guided by the drying duct 7 so as to be directed toward an inside of the drum 4.

The hot air directed toward an inside of the drum 4 heats the laundry, to vaporize moisture in the laundry. In this instance, as the drum 4 rotates slowly to turn over the laundry, making the laundry exposed to the hot air uniformly, the drum 4 accelerates vaporization of the moisture.

The moisture is discharged through the condensing duct 9 in a state contained in the air. In this instance, by spraying water from the cooling water supply pipe 9 a on the condensing duct 9, the moisture is removed from the air. The air having the moisture removed thus is introduced into the drying duct 7 again, turned into hot air by the heater 7 b and the fan 7 a, and re-introduced into the drum 4, to perform drying of the laundry.

By repeating above series of steps, the drum type washing and drying machine dries the laundry.

However, the related art drum type washing and drying machine has problems in various aspects, such as limitations in drying efficiency and performance coming from an air circulating structure in which drying air is supplied to the drum 4 through a portion where the drying duct 7 is connected to one side of an upper side of the gasket 8, and discharged again through a side of a front of the tub 3.

Because the air supplied to the drum 4 is discharged through the side of the front of the tub 3 in a state the air is not introduced deep into the inside of the drum 4 yet, the laundry deep in the drum 4 is not dried, properly.

Consequently, the related art flow structure has poor drying efficiency and performance.

Next, with regard to the drying duct 7 connected to the gasket 8, since the drying duct 7 is fixed while the gasket 8 moves when the tub 3 vibrates, the gasket 8 is liable to wear down and tear off.

According to this, it is required to provide an expensive gasket 8 having relatively small thermal deformation, a production cost increases.

Since the drying air is discharged downward vertically through the drying duct 7 and the gasket 8, crossing an axis direction of the drum 4, to hit the door glass to give a resistance to flow of the hot air, the hot air can not be introduced deep into the drum 4.

Therefore, in order to overcome this problem, a larger capacity fan is required.

Moreover, as described before, since the hot air from the drying duct 7 is introduced into the drum 4 through the gasket 8 after being deflected at the sloped portion of the door glass 2 a, the door 2 is heated, unnecessarily.

In the meantime, the connection of the drying duct 7 to an outside circumference of an upper side of the gasket 8, making an upper side and a lower side of the gasket 8 non-symmetry, causes the gasket 8 to fail in balanced holding of the front of the tub 3.

The cooling water is liable to leak from a junction point of the cooling water supply pipe 9 a and the condensing duct 90, and the cooling water supply pipe 9 a, formed separately, increases assembly steps.

Moreover, the scattering of the cooling water in the condensing duct 9 drops the condensing efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a drum type washing and drying machine that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing and drying machine having a new flow structure applied thereto, of which drying efficiency and performance is improved compared to the related art drum type washing and drying machine having the related art flow structure applied thereto, and particularly, having a condensing duct structure suitable to a modified system.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a drum type washing and drying machine includes a tub having a hot air inlet and a hot air outlet, a drying duct connected to the hot air inlet, the drying duct having a heater and a fan built in a flow passage therein for producing hot air, and a condensing duct connected to the hot air outlet and the drying duct, for removing moisture from the hot air, wherein the condensing duct includes a cooling water supply portion for guiding cooling water to the condensing duct, at least one water splashing projection in the condensing duct for splashing the cooling water, and a guide flow passage between the cooling water supply portion and the water splashing projection for guiding the cooling water to the water splashing projection.

Preferably, the cooling water supply portion is projected from a top side of the condensing duct.

The guide flow passage may be extended from a lower side of the cooling water supply portion along one side of the condensing duct.

In this instance, preferably the guide flow passage has a semicircular section, substantially.

In the meantime, preferably the condensing duct, the cooling water supply portion, the guide flow passage, and the water splashing projections are molded as one body.

The water splashing projection may be projected from one portion of the guide flow passage.

In this instance, it is preferable that the water splashing projection is projected from an end of the guide flow passage.

More preferably, the water splashing projection is projected in a direction opposite to a direction of a depth of the guide flow passage.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings;

FIG. 1 illustrates a side section of an exemplary related art drum type washing and drying machine, schematically;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view showing a state in which the cooling water supply pipe is mounted to a related art condensing duct;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side section of a drum type washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a condensing duct in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a section across a line I-I in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a section of a condensing duct in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side section of a drum type washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a condensing duct in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 illustrates a section across a line I-I in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 illustrates a section of a condensing duct in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the drum type washing and drying machine includes a substantially cylindrical tub 20 in a cabinet 10 for holding washing water, having an hot air inlet 20 a at an upper side of a front, and a hot air outlet 20 b at a lower side of a rear, a drum 30 rotatably mounted in the tub 20, having hot air pass through holes 30 a in a front for introducing the hot air passed through the hot air inlet 20 a of the tub to an inner side of the drum 30, a drying duct 40 secured to one side of an outside of an upper side of the tub 20, having a heater 41 and a fan 42 built therein for generating hot air, a condensing duct 100 for removing moisture from the hot air discharged through the hot air outlet 20 b in the lower side of the rear of the tub 20, wherein the condensing duct 100 includes a cooling water supply portion 111 formed as one body with the condensing duct 100, for guiding the cooling water to the condensing duct 100, at least one water splashing projection 130 for splashing the cooling water, a guide flow passage 112 between the cooling water supply portion 111 and the water splashing projection 130 for guiding the cooling water to the water splashing projection 130, and a water supply hose 120 for guiding the cooling water from an external water pipe (not shown) to the cooling water supply portion.

A drain hose H is connected to an underside of the tub 20, and a drain pump P is mounted in the drain hose H.

Between the tub 20 and the drying duct 40, there is a heat dissipation plate 43 for cutting off direct transmission of heat from the drying duct 40 to the tub 20.

Though it is preferable that the heat dissipation plate 43 is constructed of metal, such as a steel plate, the heat dissipation plate 43 may be constructed of plastic having no thermal deformation, having a size to cover a range of radiation heat transmission from the heater 41 in the drying duct 40.

In the meantime, it is preferable that the hot air pass through holes 30 a in the drum 30 has a radial pattern on the whole.

Though it is preferable that the drum 30 is rotated coupled directly to an outer rotor type motor having a shaft 61 passed through the tub 20 and connected to the drum 30, a rotor 62 coupled to a rear end of the shaft 61, and a stator 63 positioned on an inner side of the rotor 62, the driving type of the drum 30 is not limited to above.

Together with this, of course, heat dissipation means, such as heat dissipation fins 44, may be provided to an upper surface of the drying duct 40 for increasing a heat dissipation area, to prevent the upper surface of the drying duct 40 from overheating.

The embodiment suggests molding the condensing duct 100, the cooling water supply portion 111, the guide flow passage 112, and the water splashing projections 130 as one body.

For an example, the cooling water supply portion 111 is projected from one side of a top side of the condensing duct 100, and connected to the water supply hose 120, for receiving cooling water from the water supply hose 120 and supplying the cooling water to the guide flow passage 112 in the condensing duct 100.

Referring to FIG. 5, for an example, it is preferable that the guide flow passage 112 has substantially semicircular section extended downward from the cooling water supply portion 111 along one side of an inside of the condensing duct 100, so that the cooling water supplied through the cooling water supply portion 111 flows along the guide flow passage 112, thereby preventing the cooling water from scattering in the condensing duct 100.

Referring to FIG. 6, as described before, the water splashing projections 130 in the condensing duct 100 splashes the cooling water flowing along the guide flow passage 112.

For an example, it is preferable that the water splashing projections 130 are projected from an end of the guide flow passage 112 in a direction opposite to a depth direction of the guide flow passage 112.

A drying process of the drum type washing and drying machine will be described.

As power is supplied to the heater 41 in the drying duct 40 and the fan 42 is put into operation, hot air is produced.

The hot air is guided by the drying duct 40, passed through the hot air inlet 20 a in the tub 20 and the hot air pass through holes 30 a in the drum 30 in succession, and introduced into the drum 30.

Then, the hot air introduced into the drum 30 heat the laundry to vaporize moisture in the laundry, carries the moisture to the condensing duct 100 through the hot air outlet 20 b in the tub 20.

Then, the cooling water is supplied to the condensing duct 100 through the cooling water supply portion 111 connected to the water supply hose 120, and flows toward the water splashing projections 130 along the guide flow passage 112.

The cooling water is then splashed as the cooling water hits the water splashing projections 130, when a temperature of the hot air drops as splashed cooling water heat exchanges with the hot air, to condense the moisture therein, actively.

That is, owing to the guide flow passage 112 and the water splashing projections 130, a contact area between the hot air and the cooling water increases, to increase condensing efficiency.

The condensed water is held on a bottom of the tub 20 connected to the condensing duct 100, and discharged to an outside of the washing machine through the drain hose ‘H’ by the drain pump ‘P’.

The hot air having the moisture therein removed therefrom at the condensing duct 100 is introduced to the drying duct 40.

By repeating above series of steps, the laundry is dried.

The operation of the drum type washing and drying machine of the present invention will be described.

The diagonal direction flow of the hot air from the hot air inlet 20 a in the upper side of the front of the tub 20 to the lower side of the rear of the tub 20 enables the hot air to reach even to a place deep in an inside of the drum 30 uniformly, thereby permitting to dry the laundry, uniformly.

The hot air inlet 20 a is in the upper side of the front of the tub 20, and the hot air pass through holes 30 a in the front of the drum 30 is arranged concentrically, in straight lines, or zigzag in a radial direction, for not dropping strength of the front of the drum 30 while making a cross sectional area of the flow passage maximum.

The effective arrangement of the hot air pass through holes throughout the front of the drum 30, enabling the hot air inlet 20 a to be in communication with the hot air pass through holes 30 a even if the drum 30 rotates, permits smooth supply of the hot air supplied to the tub 20 through the hot air inlet 20 a to the drum 30 through the hot air pass through holes 30 a in the front of the drum 30.

In the meantime, the heat dissipation plate 43 under the drying duct 40 prevents transmission of heat from the drying duct 40 to the tub 20.

That is, because the tub 20 of plastic is liable to deform by the heat from the heater 41 if the drying duct 40 having the heater 41 built therein is mounted thereon directly, the direct transmission of the heat from the drying duct 40 to the tub 20 is cut off by using the heat dissipation plate 43 provided, separately.

Moreover, the direct mounting of the condensing duct 100 to the rear of the tub 20 enables to dispense with separate gasket at a portion the condensing duct 100 is connected to the tub 20.

The molding of the condensing duct 100, the cooling water supply portion 111, the guide flow passage 112, and the water splashing projections 130 as one body makes a structure of the condensing duct 100 simpler than the related art, and enables to resolve the related art problem of cooling water leakage through a portion where the condensing duct and the cooling water supply pipe are connected.

The guide flow passage 112 in the condensing duct 100 permits to prevent the cooling water supplied thereto through the water supply hose 120 from scattering.

Moreover, the water splashing projections 130 at a lower side of the condensing duct 100 improves condensing efficiency as the cooling water supplied through the water supply hose 120 flows along the guide flow passage 112 until the cooling water hits the water splashing projections 130, when the cooling water splashes, resulting to increase a contact area between the humid air drawn into the condensing duct 100 and the cooling water.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A drum type washing and drying machine comprising: a tub having a hot air inlet and a hot air outlet; a drying duct connected to the hot air inlet, the drying duct having a heater and a fan built in a flow passage therein for producing hot air; and a condensing duct connected to the hot air outlet and the drying duct, for removing moisture from the hot air, wherein the condensing duct includes; a cooling water supply portion for guiding cooling water to the condensing duct, at least one water splashing projection in the condensing duct for splashing the cooling water, and a guide flow passage between the cooling water supply portion and the water splashing projection for guiding the cooling water to the water splashing projection.
 2. The drum type washing and drying machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooling water supply portion is projected from a top side of the condensing duct.
 3. The drum type washing and drying machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide flow passage is extended from a lower side of the cooling water supply portion along one side of the condensing duct.
 4. The drum type washing and drying machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide flow passage has a semicircular section, substantially.
 5. The drum type washing and drying machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the condensing duct, the cooling water supply portion, the guide flow passage, and the water splashing projections are molded as one body.
 6. The drum type washing and drying machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water splashing projection is projected from one portion of the guide flow passage.
 7. The drum type washing and drying machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water splashing projection is projected from an end of the guide flow passage.
 8. The drum type washing and drying machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water splashing projection is projected in a direction opposite to a direction of a depth of the guide flow passage. 